Big Second Half Lifts Titans to Victory

LONG BEACH, CA -
Cal State Fullerton sophomore Lauren Chow and freshman Megan Richardson each poured in 16 points on the night to lead four players in double figures and the Titans used a big second half to lift them to a much-needed 70-61 victory over host Long Beach State on Saturday night at the Walter Pyramid.

The victory kept alive Fullerton's hopes for a berth in the Big West Conference Tournament with one regular season game to play. The Titans snapped a three-game losing skid in improving to 8-18 overall and 5-10 in league play - posting only their second win in their last 12 contests.

The 49ers fell to 8-19 overall and 4-10 in the Big West.

Chow and Richardson each hit 5-of-10 from the floor and combined to shoot 8-for-14 from three-point range, helping Fullerton to a season-best 47.6 percent shooting from behind the arc. Senior Toni Thomas came off the bench to add 12 points and seven rebounds while senior Daviyonne Weathersby had a well-rounded outing, scoring 10 points, grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out four assists, and notching four steals.

Fullerton led for most of the first half, building a lead as big as seven points on a couple of occasions - the latter coming with just over two minutes to play in the period. Undaunted, Long Beach State rallied to take a lead into the locker room, using a 9-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Lauren Sims to lead 39-37 after the first 20 minutes.

The Titans' offense came out of the gates firing on all cylinders in the second half, exploding for an 8-0 run to start the period and regain the lead at 45-39 with three minutes gone. Fullerton would eventually build a seven-point lead, but the game stayed tight with Long Beach State pulling even at 54-54 with 8:38 remaining.

That's when the Titans poured it on, finishing the game on a 16-7 run that included 4-of-5 from three-point range to close the door on the 49ers.

Fullerton outshot Long Beach State, 44 percent to 41 percent, and held the 49ers to just 36 percent shooting in the second half.

Whitney Fields led the 49ers with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead four starters in double figures. Kaiti O'Brien and LaTorya Barbee finished with 12 points apiece while Lauren Sims added 10 points.

Cal State Fullerton closes out the 2008-09 regular season next Saturday (March 7) at 4 p.m. as the Titans travel south to take on Orange County rival UC Irvine at the Bren Events Center.